It was far from a vintage performance, but Vince Carter's return stirs emotions

The cheers began when Vince Carter made his way to the scorers’ table, the sense of occasion rising with each step the baller once dubbed Half Man, Half Amazing would take.

The days of playing above the rim are well behind and with it the vitriol that greeted Carter each time he returned to Toronto.

Tuesday’s visit, Carter’s first as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, wasn’t exactly a love-in, but the affection fans of the Raptors had for the former face of the franchise was palpable.

Fans stood when Carter entered the game and Carter responded by acknowledging the crowd by raising his right arm in a show of respect.

Vince Carter resonates to this very day in Toronto and his name will forever be synonymous with the franchise that ushered in his NBA career way back in the day when names such as Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce entered the league.

Basketball has changed dramatically in the intervening years, the game more uptempo, teams going with positionless rosters, more three-point shooting, more scoring at the expense of traditional big men playing with their back to the baskets.

Carter has survived and while his days of taking over games have greatly been reduced, his spot in Raptors lore is firmly established.

No player was as exciting, no player going off for a 50 spot in a playoff game and no player revealing the nasty side of basketball quite like Carter.

Vinsanity took the NBA by storm and it says a lot about his appeal in the Toronto market that Carter sold out the venue once known as the Air Canada Centre for a charity game.

In fact, there were scalpers hawking tickets outside the arena when Carter staged one of his charity games.

He opened up a basketball court in the Dixie-Kipling neighborhood, recruited players to Toronto, became the face of a franchise teetering on irrelevancy and nearly led Toronto to an appearance in the NBA final.

This year’s edition of the Raptors, who couldn’t make a three-ball to begin the game Tuesday, are well on their way for yet another playoff appearance.

This is a team whose measuring stick will arrive once the post-season tips off.

It’s a team lacking shooters and rebounders, but it’s a team nonetheless that is more than capable of contending in the East and perhaps making that breakthrough to the NBA’s biggest stage.

That one elusive piece will only be acquired if the Raptors are willing to part ways with some of their young core.

At this stage with the NBA deadline looming next month, it’s looking more and more doubtful the Raptors are willing to trade an emerging talent such as Pascal Siakam.

When Jimmy Butler got his wish and was traded from Minny to Philly, more than a few basketball wise men wondered why the Raptors didn’t enter the bidding process for Butler, who, like Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green (the latter didn’t dress Tuesday), are eligible for free agency this summer.

There’s no doubt the Raptors are all-in this season, months removed from a major coaching change that saw Dwane Casey’s spot replaced by Nick Nurse and the franchise-altering trade with San Antonio that saw DeMar DeRozan, a Vince Carter-type player, shipped out.

At the peak of Vinsanity, the Raptors took a flyer when they signed Hakeem Olajuwon in free agency, a move that didn’t pan out given the Dream’s eroding body caused by the many years of playing at such a high level.

Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) in the final seconds of the game in Toronto, Ont. on Tuesday January 8, 2019. The Toronto Raptors host the Atlanta Hawks. Veronica Henri/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) gives the Raptors a 102-101 lead in the final seconds of the game in Toronto, Ont. on Tuesday January 8, 2019. The Toronto Raptors host the Atlanta Hawks. Veronica Henri/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Networkk

Carter’s presence was so strong that the Raptors allowed him input on personnel matters, a status only the game’s true elite are given.

As time went on, Carter was allowed too much of a voice and when it got out of control, capped off by his wishes for the club to hire Julius Erving as GM, the end was inevitable.

As good as the Raptors have played this season, they could use a veteran like Carter to show the team’s younger group the nuances of the game.

There haven’t been many, if any, players more exciting to watch than Carter.

In his dunk-athon days in Toronto, he was worth the price of admission.

Leonard is an elite player, for that there’s no question, but he’s not exciting.

When he played in San Antonio, Leonard was in the same frontcourt as Tim Duncan, anointed the Big Fundamental because few players would use the drop-step, a lost art in today’s game, or bank shot quite like the soft-spoken Duncan.

Leonard is a clone only he plays the wing position.

Damon Stoudamire was exciting, the first face of the Raptors franchise whose diminutive size belied his fearlessness in penetrating the lane.

Tracy McGrady was exciting, despite his brief run in Toronto, because, like Carter, T-Mac played above the rim.

DeRozan had moments of excitement.

Leonard is far from exciting, both in terms of his game and personality, but he’s a top-five talent in the NBA whose true importance will be felt in the post-season.

He’s very good and who knows how this year’s Raptors team will ultimately play once Leonard and Lowry learn how to play off each other.

By the break Tuesday, the Raptors were trailing the Hawks, 57-56.

Late in the third, the Raptors finally decided to show up, taking a lead before Carter drilled a baseline three-pointer, his second on the evening.

Fans at Scotiabank Arena cheered.

A few possessions later, Carter had an uncontested look from the top of the circle, his attempt coming up short.

On Toronto’s ensuing possession, Carter picked up his fourth foul with Greg Monroe operating deep in the paint.

With the game tied, 92-92, Carter re-entered the game with 5:15 remaining, once again the recipient of warm applause.

Carter wasn’t on the floor when the Hawks were trying to hold on to a one-point lead.

When his team lost that lead, he went for one last miracle three-pointer from way out of range, but it wasn’t to be.

In 13 minutes, Carter scored six points on two-of-five shooting, not exactly a vintage performance but his presence added a much-needed layer of occasion on an otherwise nondescript early week tip.

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